Lightbulb Buying Guide

Everything you need to know for smart shopping

Lighting a room can be one of the more challenging aspects of decorating and design—choosing a fixture you love is easier than knowing the difference between a halogen and an LED. The good news: Things are about to get easier. In January, many lighting companies will begin putting "lighting facts" on lightbulb labels. But still, it's important to know what all of that lingo means. Here, a guide to help you figure it all out.

To Start: What Fixture Are You Filling?
Are you looking for a bulb for a bathroom sconce or a table lamp in the bedroom? Bathrooms do best with diffused light—a mixture of compact fluorescents and halogen bulbs that give off a low contrast and soft lighting. LED bulbs are good for areas where bright, focused light is necessary—like prep areas of the kitchen. Ask yourself: What kind of light do I want in the room? Then, how can I achieve that mood while using the least amount of energy?

Lightbulb OptionsIncandescent bulbs: These inexpensive bulbs are probably what you've been buying for years, but they're about to undergo some changes. Forget buying a 100-watt incandescent bulb—they're being phased out for environmental reasons. While consumers can still purchase incandescent bulbs, federal law requires that they be produced using 30 percent less energy. They'll emit the same warm light, but even with the federally required changes, these bulbs will still use more energy than some of their greener counterparts.

Compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs): These bulbs are good for the environment and your wallet: They often last 7 to 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs, and experts say they use 75 percent less energy. These bulbs generally cost more up front, but you can break even quickly, thanks to the energy savings. The major downsides: You can't use them with dimmers, and they take a few seconds to power on. And while they contain a very small amount of mercury, it's sealed in glass tubing so it's not released if the bulb is broken. Manufacturers are working to improve these bulbs; for example, they no longer emit an annoying buzzing sound and they're available in different colors, like cool, neutral, or warm. These bulbs are particularly effective when used in places where the lights are left on often, like a hallway, porch, or kitchen.

Halogen bulbs: Halogen lights are incandescent bulbs, but they use much less energy than standard bulbs do. They emit a yellowish glow, like incandescent bulbs, but they're more expensive than incandescents and don't last nearly as long as CFLs. These bulbs cast light all around a room, making them a good choice for lamps or chandeliers.

Light-Emitting Diode Lightbulbs (LEDs): These bulbs may outlive you; manufacturers say they can last between 20 to 45 years if used for just a few hours a day. They come in a wide variety of colors and work with dimmers. The light can be a bit harsh, though, since they're unidirectional (cast light in one direction), so you want to use them in areas where focused light is important, like over artworks or in kitchen prep areas.

What's the Right Wattage?
Wattage doesn't tell you how bright a light is—it only tells you how much energy the lightbulb is using. For example, if you're replacing a 60-watt incandescent bulb, you'll want to use a 13- to 18-watt CFL. In essence, a CFL produces more light with less energy.

But the wattage doesn't necessarily impact lumens, which measures the amount of light emitted. This can be helpful when comparing a 100-watt incandescent bulb producing 1690 lumens with a 23-watt compact fluorescent producing 1500 lumens—they're nearly identical in how much light they cast, but one uses much less energy.

Understanding Lightbulb Color
Lightbulbs come in a variety of shades, from bright white, to blueish, to yellowish. Put simply, the color temperature of light is rated in degrees Kelvin. The lower the Kelvin number (between 2700K to 3000K), the more yellow the light. Higher Kelvin numbers, say 5500K to 6500K, emit a bluer light. For a white light, look for bulbs marked 3500K to 4100K.

In January 2012, all lightbulb boxes will be required to tell consumers where the bulb falls on the color spectrum. Selecting bulb color will become much easier.

Things to Consider

Make sure that you don't choose a lightbulb with a higher wattage than your lamp allows. It can be tricky with the lower wattages to know what is the right wattage in CFLs or halogens. Energy Star has very helpful charts to help you figure out what bulb is best for you.

If you're choosing a lightbulb for outdoors, make sure that it's in a fixture that protects it from getting wet. Many CFLs and LEDs can be used outside, but they can't get wet.

Also, not all bulbs can be used in, say, ceilings fans or chandeliers so be sure to check the packaging.

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